A land dispute between Katima Mulilo Town Council and a late businessman’s family has sucked in the President’s office.

The land, which is in the vicinity of Wenela and Katima farm along the Zambian and Namibian border, once belonged to the late businessman William John Finaughty and was later gazetted as part of the communal land under section 66 (1) of the Local Authority Amendment Act, 2000 (Act 24 of 2000).
Katima Mulilo Town Council which took control of the land after it was gazette leased it to the Namibia Development Corporation which is still using it.
Finaughty’s grandchildren who are now grown up are demanding back the land from the town council and have written to President Hifikipunye Pohamba and the Legal Assistance Centre seeking help to repossess it.
“The office of the President, acknowledges the receipt of your letter in which you have informed him of the desire to re-posses a pieces of land or plot that you believe belongs to your grandfather. (The) President has requested that he first investigate the matter and later revert back to the family,” says part of the letter.
A letter from the Mafwe Royal Establishment under whose jurisdiction the land falls signed by Chief Mamili and dated 27 February 2008 confirms that the land in question belongs to the Finaughty family.
“Linyanti Traditional Authority hereby certify that Mr Kangula Patrick Finaughty . . . has been given that portion of land situated in Liselo area named Finaughty for residential and business purposes,” part of the letter says.
Governor of Caprivi Region, Leonard Mwilima, said the Regional Council is aware of the issue and the matter was referred to the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing Authority as the disputed land falls under a jurisdiction and would consult with Mafwe Traditional Authority.
“Office of the Governor was informed of the matter but we still have to arrange a meeting with the relevant traditional authority and the Finaughty family to iron it out and all this will depend on the time frame availability of respondents,” said Mwilima
John Finaughty Jr told Informanté that there was an informal settlement set up when their grandfather was granted the land for business operations and he hence established a large store, motor car workshops, carpentry and a butchery.
“We have proof of ownership of our late grandfather’s property. The council is just delaying the matter, yet they are fighting us over it. Our family is ready to put it to good economic use,” said Finaughty Jr.
Katima Mulilo Town Council Town Clerk, Vincent Sazita, however, said there was no dispute since the land will be transferred back to the Town Council soon.
“Town Council is not in any dispute because that land still belongs to NDC who are planning to transfer it to us. Finaughty family must understand the magnitude of the land occupation as it falls under the communal area as gazetted,” said Sazita.